Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-02-05
Washington Letter.

The toilers on Capitol Hill confront
ed various questions during the past
week, some of which were important,
while Others were not so. Among
them were the fisheries trouble with
Canada; woman suffrage; pensions
the bill establishing Agricultural Ex-
pertinent Stations; the bill prevent
ing members of Congress from acting
as attorneys for corporations with
which Congress has important deal
ings; the Pleuro- Pneumonia bill; the
River and Harbor bill, and several
of the other regular appropriation
bills.
The Woman Suffrage Association,
which has just closed its nineteenth
annual convention in this city, saw
the Senate remorsely vote down their
proposed suffrage amendment to the
Constitution. But sixteen Senators
voted in favor of the ladies, and that
was great victory for them. They
have repeatedly seen both houses of
Congress vote against the considera-
ton of the proposed amendment, but
this was the first time they ever had
a vote on the amendment itself.
i. A committee of twelve ladies, all
prominent in thesuffrage movement,
called at the White House to present
to the President written protest
against that portion of the Utah bill
which DISTINGUISHES the gentle wo-
men of Utah. The Mormons are al
ready DISTINGUISHED, male and female.
The President received the ladies
graciously, and spoke few words to
each as she was introduced to him.
Several of them made short argu-
ments in favor of the rights of Utah
women to what they had been allow
ed to exercise for fifteen years-the
franchise-and urged the President to
veto the bill if it passes as it now
reads. Mr.. Cleveland listened at
tentively, promised to give the
matter careful attention, and said he
had supposed the women of Utah did
not care to vote and did not vote
when they had chances. Heshook
hands with each lady again at part
ing, and after they had been shown
through the suite of parlors, the COM
mittee left the house much pleased
with the cordial manner of the Chef
Magistrate.
1t looks as if there is really to be a
change in the Cabinet soon, and that
two of the best officials in the Treasury
are to become president and vice.
: president of the new National Bank
} in New York. / refer to the Sec
3 rotary of the Treasury and to the U. S.
. Treasurer, Mr.. Jordan. Mr.. Manning
| declines to say anything regarding
: the matter, but it is generally believ-
, ed that he will offer his resignation to
3 take effect soon after the adjournment
+ of Congress. The contemplated re.
: tirement of Treasurer Jordan at that
} time is openly acknowledged.
1 While the President is compelled
to regret parting with these officers
r he is quoted as saying that he did moi
: like to assume the responsibility o.
: standing in the way of what he re
e garded as their self-interest. The
: salary of Mr.. Manning's new Office
t will be 20,OO0-more than twice tha
= of a Cabinet officer, and the position
a will not require the continual strair
1 necessary to fill the office ofSecretary
s of the Treasury. Besides the Presi
: dent and the Secretary's friends ar,
e constantly fearful that his health vii
y succumb to his present onerous duties
e There is a clear case for a veto il
e the drag-net pension bill which ha
b passed the House and the Senate ant
n goes to the President. 1t provide
e that all persons who served thre
}, months or more in the military O
# naval service of the United States il
j. any war, shall be pensioned at tn,
It rate of $l2 per month if they are un
IS able to earn a support because o
e physical or mental disability. Any
s thing to spend the surplus appears t,
o be the motto of the Republicans o
J. both branches of Congress. Thi
If measure, which was rushed through
the Senate without a roll-caIl, virtual